Chapter 68: Temptation from the Earth Church

"So you're here to ask me if I can quickly accelerate the sprouting of newly germinated seedlings?" In a corner of the Harvest Chapel of the Earth Church, Wuseer looked curiously at the person and the rabbit before him.

"Yes, it's winter, which is unsuitable for planting, and if you want plants to grow quickly, the only thing I can think of is the Earth Church's extraordinary ability." Leike Dun nodded honestly, but did not say that he was doing this to help the rabbit act as a farmer.

"That goes against the natural law of life's gestation." Wuseer shook his head.

Leike Dun was stunned; he hadn't expected the other side to refuse. He had originally thought the matter was simple.

Leike Dun wrestled with his thoughts for a moment, then said again, "It doesn't need to make the plants mature instantly; I just hope to shorten the growth cycle, like fertilizing, to make them grow a bit faster."

"Fertilizing doesn't shorten a plant's growth cycle." Wuseer shook his head again in refusal.

"Sigh~" Leike Dun sighed helplessly, reached out to pat the Tu Ba Ge on his shoulder, indicating his powerlessness.

"Is it not possible to let the plants grow just a little faster without relying on extraordinary ability?" Leike Dun asked finally.

"Since you're not using extraordinary ability, can't you just plant them yourselves?" Wuseer was even more puzzled.

"You could think of it as providing a suitable environment for the plants—like summer flowers can't grow in winter but can in a winter greenhouse. May I create an environment that lets plants grow sturdier and faster?" Leike Dun explained.

Wuseer was silent for a while, then reluctantly said, "If such an environment isn't maintained by extraordinary ability, its effect is also limited. Are you sure you need it?"

"Can it make the soil fertile?" Tu Ba Ge asked curiously.

"I can give you some church‑formulated nutrient solution; you just need to pour some into the soil periodically to maintain fertility," Wuseer quickly offered a plan.

"Sure! Please, I might need quite a lot; just sell it to me at the appropriate price," Leike Dun nodded and said.

"I can formulate these nutrient solutions myself; they're not special items. But what do you need so much of them for?" Wuseer, curious about Leike Dun's large demand, wondered if he planned to use them for an entire estate.

"To cultivate different varieties of the same species for experiments," Leike Dun casually made up a reason.

"What experiment?" Wuseer became even more curious.

"Um." Leike Dun was momentarily stunned, then began to babble.

"I think that because extraordinary beings exist, the world's development largely depends on extraordinary power; yet the vast majority of people are ordinary, and only changes based on ordinary people can truly become widespread," Leike Dun felt his words becoming more absurd.

But Wuseer listened more seriously, and Leike Dun had to keep improvising: "So I want to see if I can breed crops that increase yield or adapt to various environments without extraordinary power—in short, to stabilize the products of hybridization."

"Stabilize the hybrid products? Is that possible?" Wuseer asked, not understanding.

As a Harvest Priest, he could cause plant mutations himself, but without extraordinary ability to influence them, the final products would be completely uncontrollable.

"Why not? Plants on the continent aren't static; I'm just turning natural selection into artificial selection and speeding it up a bit," Leike Dun employed all his high‑school biology knowledge.

"Your idea is meaningful; if you hadn't already joined the Knowledge Church, I'd invite you to join the Earth Church now—your philosophy aligns with the Mother God's doctrine!" Archbishop Ai Xi·Mi Ya of the Harvest Chapel approached at an unknown moment.

"Good afternoon, Your Excellency!" Leike Dun hurriedly bowed to Archbishop Ai Xi·Mi Ya.

"Your Excellency!" Wuseer also reacted, turning to bow to Archbishop Ai Xi·Mi Ya behind him.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Leike Dun, I think I haven't misremembered your name," Archbishop Ai Xi·Mi Ya said in a gentle, motherly voice.

Leike Dun felt no demigod's awe from the other side, yet the battle between her and the out‑of‑control blood noble who ascended through a different path had left a deep impression in his mind.

"No, I didn't expect Archbishop Your Excellency to still remember me," Leike Dun said with a sighing tone.

"Although I'm not an extraordinary being in your readers' path, my memory isn't that bad! Anyway, congratulations—you've already ascended to Sequence Seven," Archbishop Ai Xi·Mi Ya joked, then confirmed Leike Dun's promotion to Sequence Seven.

Leike Dun didn't see any issue with a demigod noticing his ascent to Sequence Seven; he was just impressed by the demigod's easygoing nature.

"Could you elaborate on the idea you just mentioned? I'm very interested. If possible, the Earth Church is willing to provide limited assistance—whether experimental materials or assistants," Archbishop Ai Xi·Mi Ya said, skipping small talk and getting straight to the point.

"Huh? Why?" This development was something Leike Dun hadn't expected; he had only been talking nonsense, a fleeting thought.

"Don't worry; this matter involves spreading the Mother God's radiance, so the Earth Church is willing to help. You can think of it as an investment—I think you might understand that phrasing better," Archbishop Ai Xi·Mi Ya explained.

Leike Dun nodded; Archbishop Ai Xi·Mi Ya's explanation was reasonable. He had truly just been talking nonsense a moment ago!

Now, if he says he was only playing, will this demigod instantly transform into a three‑ or four‑meter‑tall giant bear and slap him?

Leike Dun restrained his wild thoughts, strained to recall the bits of biology he had learned, and then organized his words.

"My idea is to crossbreed individuals of different species to create superior offspring with stable inheritance, thereby increasing crop yield and adaptability," Leike Dun managed to say after racking his brain.

"Thanks to Luo Sai Er for introducing the concepts of heredity and genes to this world; otherwise I wouldn't know how to explain," Leike Dun mentally gave a goodwill card to the old yellow‑haired man in the tomb.

"Hmm, what kind of help do you need? Nutrient solutions and a cultivation lab—the Earth Church can provide them," Archbishop Ai Xi·Mi Ya said, nodding.

Finally, his gaze fell again on the Tu Ba Ge on Leike Dun's shoulder; the Tu Ba Ge timidly buried its head into Leike Dun's collar.

As a fellow extraordinary being, it could sense how terrifying this kindly aunt in front of it was.

"Is that your assistant? Its sequence is a bit low; when it later needs to ascend, you can come to the Earth Church, which can provide it with demonic elixirs. For now, if your experiment needs anything, you can always ask Wuseer; he'll help," Archbishop Ai Xi·Mi Ya generously pledged the demonic elixirs needed for Tu Ba Ge's future ascension.

Leike Dun wanted to say, "Your Excellency, that's generous; I agree," but he had only been talking nonsense earlier, and now he didn't know how to back out.

【5】 "Um, Archbishop, this isn't something that yields results in a short time," Leike Dun cautioned the archbishop.

Your Excellency, the Archbishop, this is not something that can yield results in a short time. Leiketon reminded this archbishop.

He hoped the other would retract the earlier words, because Leike Dun feared that soon he'd be unable to resist the Earth Church's tempting conditions.

"I understand; we won't rush you. That's the Earth Church's promise—no matter where you are, you can receive help from the local church," Archbishop Ai Xi·Mi Ya said considerately.

Finally, the archbishop added, "Your assistant's current abilities aren't enough to complete the experiment; the church can give you suitable magical items or seals. Of course, you can also directly ask the church's extraordinary beings for help."

Leike Dun felt he couldn't refuse the temptation, like a fish that bites even knowing the bait might be a hook.

"Okay, but can I find some assistants later on my own? If I encounter an extraordinary being I think can help me," Leike Dun could no longer resist the Earth Church's temptation.

Leike Dun's current plan is to quickly persuade Fu Lan Ke at sea to come over and help with his experiments; as long as Fu Lan Ke doesn't conduct anti‑human experiments, Leike Dun believes his abilities are still strong.

"Of course you can!" Archbishop Ai Xi·Mi Ya smiled and nodded.

"Then I have no problem. By the way, could you provide me with some Earth Church experimental data on this matter? Also information on various crops, so I don't have to research it piece by piece," Leike Dun asked.

"No problem; I'll have Wuseer deliver the needed materials to your home later," Archbishop Ai Xi·Mi Ya readily agreed.

"Alright! Thank you, Archbishop!" Leike Dun courteously bowed in gratitude.

Even after leaving the Earth Church, Leike Dun felt dizzy; he had only come to see Wuseer for a quick plant‑growth talisman or potion, yet inexplicably ended up accepting the Earth Church's investment and launching a new project!

"Never speak recklessly again!" Leike Dun admonished himself internally.

(End of Chapter)